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This is the discussion thread for a recent post on GTPlanet:
This article was published by Andrew Evans (@Famine) on February 19th, 2020 in the FIA WEC category.
Actually, it's a re-ordered statement. The original ruleset required 25 road going versions of the race car powertrains as a minimum production run (I recall that increased for subsequent seasons), although this has since been relaxed, poked, rejigged, and then scrapped. I wrote it as part of the statement that followed, then when I juggled the paragraph around I forgot about it.— with a requirement to build road-going cars —
This is a wrong statement, in the hypercar rules it is fully permitted to not make any road cars when using the prototype rules.
Aston doesn't mention the financial situation, and says it's about the principle of marrying the Hypercar class and DPi:Not surprised, they don't have enough money to be running all these motorsport programs.
This was confirmed an investor/board financial decision. Makes sense now. The Strolls now have the majority share in Aston Martin, and the focus will be in F1, just like they did messing up Williams, they will be pushing it all for sonny boys career
Actually, it's a re-ordered statement. The original ruleset required 25 road going versions of the race car powertrains as a minimum production run (I recall that increased for subsequent seasons), although this has since been relaxed, poked, rejigged, and then scrapped. I wrote it as part of the statement that followed, then when I juggled the paragraph around I forgot about it.
Thanks for pointing it out - I'll reword it.
I think that's also significant. AML understandably don't want to commit to enter a race series where there is only Toyota as a competitor. It's a complete waste of time.Wow, just wow. First they exit DTM (although that was just an AM branded private team) and now they cancel their WEC project. Aston Martin is, today, all talks and not much more. They want to be considered as one of the premium sports brands, but they certainly cant back this up in Motorsport.
That being said, i can see their point. With the DPI agreement, the whole Hypercar class is pretty much obsolete. DPI is much cheaper. No need to build your own superexpensive race car. And they didnt even want to use any hybrid system...
Now that AM has pulled out, Toyota is the only confirmed manufacturer for 2021 once again?! Peugeot is expected to join later, DPI 2.0 wont be ready for 2021...
I think that's also significant. AML understandably don't want to commit to enter a race series where there is only Toyota as a competitor. It's a complete waste of time.
They have said it's a postponement not a cancellation, they will wait and see how tree landscape looks for the following year
Toyota , SCG and Peugeot seem to disagree so lets wait and see 👍 .That being said, i can see their point. With the DPI agreement, the whole Hypercar class is pretty much obsolete. DPI is much cheaper. No need to build your own superexpensive race car. And they didnt even want to use any hybrid system...
Yea they are investing in the industry saving an F1 and one of the most beloved automakers such horrible peoplecan the Stroll family just get the hell away from racing and cars, they are not good at it.
Laurence saved Force India from going under, and has basically just saved Aston Martin as well. His involvement in F1 goes all the way back to the Schumacher at Benetton days.can the Stroll family just get the hell away from racing and cars, they are not good at it.
The British marque engaged in some fictional writing where it blamed the recent prototype rules convergence agreement, made between the ACO and IMSA, as the reason for ‘pausing’ the Valkyrie Hypercar program. Let’s be clear: There is no pause, and convergence had nothing to do with its withdrawal. Finances, and a lack thereof, is why Aston Martin binned its return to prototype racing. To suggest otherwise is nonsensical. A safety net for Aston Martin has since been provided by investors, but the costly Hypercar racing effort was immediately targeted as a priority to axe.
There’s a good reason for Aston Martin’s creative explanation for its Hypercar exit: in times of weakness, the last thing a business needs to do is highlight or confirm its troubles in print, and by casting aspersions at the newly-unified prototype convergence plans, the financial difficulties were ignored altogether.
I'm getting TVR vibes from Aston Martin and I know I shouldn't be.
I don't like Aston Martin's statement, I doubt the rules are the real reason for their withdrawal. Being kind you would say their relationship with Red Bull has become more complex, less kind but probably more honest they're in the 🤬 financially, even with the Stroll investment. To take a cheap shot at the championship which bent over backwards to help them is not a good look.
Aston were involved in the creation of the hypercar rules which are not too far off the car they already have.How has WEC bent over backwards to help Aston? I'm not being argumentative, just wanting to learn.
From the news article and their statement I gather they are concerned about building an expensive car that has no chance of winning. It may still be a marketable car for them to sell, but entering a series may not be wise and I see their point.
What is not true about their statement? Again apologies, I'm not in the know. Just a motorsports fan on the sidelines who always marvelled at the Valkyrie project.
Yea they are investing in the industry saving an F1 and one of the most beloved automakers such horrible people...